Demons: Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 3 Summary & Analysis

Stepan and Varvara grow close as friends, though they’re often at each other’s throats. Stepan is moved on several occasions to write letters to Varvara detailing his grievances. He writes those letters even when he and Varvara are living under the same roof. The difference between Stepan and Varvara, Anton says, is that Varvara never would have written those kinds of letters. It’s true that she often seems to detest Stepan, but really, she loves him. She fiercely defends him if anyone impugns his character. She does require a lot from Stepan as a result, though, but she is also very forgiving.